Roof structure



J. S. EDISON ROOF STRUCTURE Sept. 20, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 27, 1936 A Fzgl/ INVENTOR. John S. Ed/son ATTIORNEY Sept. 20, 1938.

2 Shts-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1936 1 4 2 2 fiwo 5 1b a b 2 .E Q 5 6 2 nm7 3 r I? f 4 4 A FEW.

24 21a Frq. 6'.

INVENT 0R. John 6. Ed/SOH A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED sraROOF STRUCTURE Application October 27, 1936, Serial No. 107,833

11 Claims.

My invention relates to roof structures and particularly to woodstructures, although certain features are applicable to other types.This invention has particular reference to structure employing bowstringor similar type of roof trusses.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a roofstructure of the saw tooth type having efiicient internal bracing so asto eliminate extensive and thick outer walls and horizontal diagonalbracing, and thereby increase to a large extent the available storing orother space.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a roof trussunit for saw tooth type of roofs, in which the truss and column or postfor one end of the truss forms a part of and is erected with and as apart of the truss.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a rooftruss and supporting column in which the latter supports the lowerportions of the truss and forms the side or end of the truss and thefoundation for" a vertical wall at the end of and between adjacenttrusses.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a roofstructure employing a bowstring truss having a supporting column at oneend and a super structure extending as a continuation of and curvedupwardly from the top of the truss to and supported by the upper end ofthe column.

An important object also of this invention is the provision of astructure, as hereinbefore re ferred to, in which the supporting columnsof adjacent trusses are reinforced relative to each other by transversetrusses and particularly at such a position above the lower chords ofthe first trusses so as to provide clear head room below the trusses,efliciently reinforce the structure transversely, and provide amplewindow clearance above the transverse trusses.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means and methodof placing and anchoring the supporting column for the trusses.

An object also is the provision of novel, rigid but economical jointsbetween the chords and braces.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, I havedevised a roof structure having certain novel features of construction,combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will behereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe characters of reference thereon, which form a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig.

OFFIQE 1 is a sectional elevation showing one truss unit, with 1tsadjoining parts, of my roof structure in its preferred embodiment;

Fig.

2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken at 22 of Fig. 1, showing twoadjacent truss units;

Fig.

taken Fig.

3 is an enlarged typical vertical section at 33 of Fig. 1;

4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation detail in my copending patentapplication for Roof trusses, Serial No. 100,887. This truss consistsprimarily of a horizontal bottom chord l, a convex top chord 2, andtransverse vertical braces 3 and diagonal braces l.

The upper end of each Vertical brace 3 is positioned between the spacedapart chord elements 2 and 2 comprising the upper chord member, and inoverlapped relation to each of the abutted pairs of elements alsocomprising said member; that is, approximately one half of the width ofthe vertical brace is positioned between one pair and the other halfbetween the adjacent pair of elements.

I have provided U-plates 5, one of which is placed over the top and overthe joint of each of the abutting elements 2 and 2 one leg of each beingplaced against the outer side of the chord side.

element and the other against the inner The ends of the abutted chordelements are secured to the plates 5 and brace 3 by transverse bolts 6extending through all of the elements, thus rigidly uniting all of themembers. As shown, the inner legs 5 of the U-plates may be elongated andfurther secured to the braces below the chord elements, and thus furtherpost.

To the underside of the lower flanges of these extended ends are securedcross channels I4, on one of which said opposite end of the truss A issupported and secured.

To the opposite sides of the lower end of the post are secured verticalchannels I5, the post fitting between the flanges of the opposedchannels. These channels support the post on the foundation I2. Thechannels extend below the post such a distance that the lower end of thepost is spaced above the level of a floor I6 which is to be laid on thefoundation I2. There is placed between the channels I5, to facilitatethe support of the post on the foundation, a concrete block II, asshown. To the outer sides of the lower ends of the channels I aresecured angles I 8 which are secured to anchor bolts I9 extending abovethe foundation I2.

In order to mount the truss and post in place, one end is secured to thewall E and the angles are merely placed over and secured to the anchorbolts I9.

The post extends above the bottom chord of the truss A, or above thesupporting channels I3, a distance greater than the depth of the trussA. The upper end of the post supports the end of the super truss orstructure C.

Said super truss or structure consists of a curved upper chord 2!,comprising transversely spaced elements 2| and 2H and a top plate 22.The top plate or cap merges in curved form with the corresponding memberI of the truss A, slightly beyond the median line, in such a manner thatthe top plates of both trusses provide a graceful curve andsubstantially one continuous roof truss. The portion of the upper chordof the truss 0, intermediate the ends are supported on the upper chordof the truss A by means of vertical braces 23, the ends of which formtenons which fit respectively between the spaced apart chord elements 2l and 2 I and into mortise joints I in the top plate I. The chordelements 2 I and 2 I are preferably abutted against the post I I andsecured thereto by wood or other plates 24, mortised into the post, asshown in Fig. 5.

In effect the super truss forms with the bowstring truss a single trussstructure supported at 7 one end of the wall or on a post and at theopposite end of the post. I

Adjacent posts, that is, posts supporting adjacent trusses arereinforced relative to each other by transverse trusses D which may beof any desired forml The lower members SI of the trusses D rest on thechannels IS. The width of this truss is preferably one-half or less thanonehalf the distance between the supporting channels I3 and the topchord of the super truss C. Above the upper element 32 of this truss areprovided windows 33 for the building.

On the top plates I and 22 of the upper chords of the trusses A and Care transversely supported the roof joists which in turn carry the roofproper.

With this construction, I have found that no horizontal diagonalbracing, and no elaborate side wall construction is required to providea rigid structure.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, I do notwish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of myinvention, the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantiallyas set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a roof structure, a bowstring truss, and a super truss constructedon and above the crown of the same at one side of its median line, thetop of the super truss being curved and merging at one end with thecrown of the bowstring truss, the opposite end portion of the supertruss extending higher than said crown.

2. In a roof structure, a bowstring truss, a super truss constructed onand above the crown of the same at one side of its median line, the topof the super truss being curved and merging at one end with the crown ofthe bowstring truss, the opposite end portion of the super trussextending higher than said crown, and a column supporting one end of thebowstring truss and the latter end of the super truss and forming theside of the latter truss.

3. In a roof structure, a pair of parallel roof trusses, each having abottom and top chord joined at one end and diverging therefrom andvertically separated at the opposite ends, vertical columns, one foreach truss, each column supporting the latter ends of both chords of itsrespective truss, and a third vertical truss extending transversely tothe former trusses and connecting and reinforcing said columns relativeto each otherv 4. In a roof structure, a pair of aligned roof trusses,each having a bottom and top chord joined at one end and divergingtherefrom and vertically separated at the opposite ends, a verticalcolumn supporting the latter ends of both chords of one truss and thejoined end of the other truss, another pair of similar aligned trussespositioned parallel to the former pair, another column similarlysupporting the latter pair of trusses, and a transverse vertical trussextending between and reinforcing adjacent columns relative to eachother above the bottom chords.

5. In a roof truss, a lower chord and an upper chord, the lattercomprising transversely spaced apart elements, vertical braces betweenthe of said elements, the inner legs of the opposed pairs beingpositioned at the opposite sides of the corresponding brace, and meanssecuring said elements and braces together through said plates.

6. In a roof truss, a lower chord and an upper chord, the lattercomprising pairs of spaced apart elements positioned with the ends ofone pair abutting the ends of the adjacent pair, vertical braces betweenthe chords, the upper end of each brace positioned between said spacedapart elements, and the upper end of each brace also overlappingabutting pairs of elements, separate U-plates arranged in opposed pairs,the U-plates of each pair overlapping the end portions of the abuttingelements of each abutting pair, one U- plate of each pair extending overthe upper edge of abutting elements, the inner legs of the opposed pairsbeing positioned at the opposite sides of the corresponding brace, andmeans securing the abutte-d ends of the elements to the brace and platetherebetween.

'7, In a bowstring roof truss, a straight lower chord and an archedupper chord, the latter comprising abutting arch elements, verticalbraces be tween the chords, and plates extending over the abutting endsof the elements, each plate being positioned between and secured to apair of abutting elements and a brace.

8. In a bowstring roof truss, a straight lower chord and an arched upperchord, the latter comprising abutting arch elements, braces between thechords, and inverted U -plates extending over and secured to abuttingend portions of the elements, each plate having one leg positionedbetween a pair of abutting elements and a brace and also secured to thelatter.

9. In a bowstring roof truss, a straight lower chord and an arched upperchord, the latter comprising abuttlng arch elements, braces between thechords, and inverted U-plates extending over and secured to abutting endportions of the elements, each plate having one leg considerably longerthan the width of the elements, said longer leg being positioned betweena pair of abutting elements and a brace and. also secured to the latter.

10. In a roof structure, a bowstring truss, and a super trussconstructed on and above the crown of the same at one side of its medianline, the top of the super truss being curved and merging at one endwith the crown of the bowstring truss.

11. In a roof structure, a bowstring truss, a super truss constructed onand above the crown of the same at one side of its median line, the topof the super truss being curved and merging at one end with the crown ofthe bowstring truss, and a column supporting one end of the bowstringtruss and the latter end of the super truss and forming the side of thelatter truss.

JOHN S. EDISON.

